End of an era: First Kenyan professor and pioneer scientist dies aged 91

End of an era: First Kenyan professor and pioneer scientist dies aged 91

By DAVID OHITO

The academic world is mourning one of its outstanding and pioneer scholars.

Professor David Peter Wasawo passed away on Monday night aged 91. The academic giant took his last breath after an illustrious career that spanned several decades.

Wasawo made history by being the country’s first African professor at a time many shied away from school.

Renowned for his scholarly achievements, Prof Wasawo is fondly remembered among academicians for his humility and approachable mien.

Carey Francis, a respected colonial teacher described him as “the most brilliant Kenyan he ever taught”.

A biography citation of the fallen academic giant can be found at the University of Nairobi, where he was conferred with an honorary Doctor of Science degree on November 29, 1999.

Prof Wasawo was born in Gem location of the present day Siaya County in 1923 and studied at Maseno School from 1937. His academic roots are traced to his days at Maseno where he sat the Kenya Junior Secondary School Examination in 1941 and passed with a distinction, to be declared the best overall candidate in the country.

All subjects

Between 1942-1943, Wasawo attended Alliance High School where he passed the Cambridge Overseas School Certificate Examinations and recorded a fresh set of distinctions in all the subjects he sat.

He earned admission to Makerere University College in Kampala, which was the only institution in East and Central Africa offering diploma courses then. There were no degree programmes.

His biography says he enrolled for science courses, specialising in biology before taking the London Higher Matriculation examinations, then a preserve of whites. He was later to become an outstanding student of biology, whose brilliance was immortalised in books and records of the Oxford University.

He scaled another milestone in 1951 by becoming the first East African ever to be awarded a degree in science and an Oxford Masters degree in Zoology. He was the first African member of the teaching staff in the Faculty of Science at Makerere.

Prof Wasawo was awarded a PhD degree by London University in 1959.

In 1965, he transferred from Makerere to the University of Nairobi College to be first deputy principal until 1970 when the tides turned against him. Prof Josephat Karanja was appointed the vice chancellor, beating him to the post.

He returned to the classroom and taught for about a year before he decamped to UNESCO and was later appointed Chief of Natural Resources at the UN Economic Commission for Africa.

Among the positions he held in his career include a stint as managing director of theLake Basin Development Authority between 1979-1982. In the following four years, he served as development adviser in the Ministry of Energy.

Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga condoled with the family and described Prof Wasawo as a distinguished scientist, who inspired many to pursue university education in general, and sciences in particular.

Raila termed Wasawo’s death as the passing of an icon, who promoted science-based education and lifted the country’s reputation internationally from the days of independence.